Intermittent tone device



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M. L. PEARSON- INTERMITTENT TONE DEVICE Flled Oct 19, 1954 June 19, 1956 INTERMITTENT TONE DEVICE Martin L. Pearson, Birmingham, Mich.

Application October 1 9, 1954, Serial Na-463,197

1 Claim. .(Cl.{11 6-.13.

This invention relates to an intermittent sound tone device adapted to operate in an air :stream which is particularly suitable for use on automobiles.

Air stream tone devices or vibrators have been employed heretofore to facilitate the production of sound in conjunction with the stream of air flowing past the device in a channel, however, the several devices of the prior art have not been adapted to produce an intermittent sound in air travelling steadily therethrough nor have they been suitable to produce sounds of different tones automatically in conjunction with the air travelling in a channel. The device finds particular utility and adaptability in any device wherein an air stream is inherently involved such as in an internal combustion engine due to the fact that the exhaust stream of such engines provides an air stream and a duct in which to dispose the inventive device to produce desired tones on an intermittent basis. Obviously, a separate blower can be provided to power the inventive device to lend universal adaptability for use as warning and caution signals such as for railroads, school zones, shipping, and auto trafiic, and for advertising and novelty purposes such as signs and toys.

Due to the fact that air streams in ducts and channels usually flow constantly, it has not been possible heretofore to obtain intermittent tones from such an air stream nor to obtain tones of varied qualities from the air stream such as high and low tones; or tones of heavy and light quality.

With the foregoing in view, the primary object of the invention is to provide an intermittent tone device which produces spaced tones of varied quality and varied pitch.

An object of the invention is to provide an intermittent tone device which can be manufactured inexpensively, as the component parts are easily made and the assembly of the parts readily accomplished.

An object of the invention is to provide an intermittent tone device which can be operated with ease and installed with ease, either by a professional mechanic or a self-user.

An object of the invention is to provide an intermittent tone device which can be fitted to all sizes of air ducts or exhaust pipes without changes in its assembly or the arrangement of the parts.

An object of the invention is to provide an intermittent tone device which can be easily mounted or dismounted from the air duct and which can be very easily fixed in non-operative position without either substantially interrupting or impeding the flow of air in the duct or without a radical change in the structure.

These and other objects of the invention will become apparent by reference to the following description of an intermittent tone device of varied qualities embodying the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing in which:

Fig. 1 is a schematic view of an internal combustion engine showing the inventive device disposed before and after the mufiier.

nited States Patent 2,750,919 Patented June 19, 1956 Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view of an air duct with the inventive device disposed therein such as the exhaust pipe of an engine.

vFig. 3 is a cross-sectional view of an air duct showing the inventive device installed therein such .as on a windmill or other wind operated device.

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view of an air duct with the inventive device disposed normal thereto such as viewed in Figs. 2 and 3indicated-by the arrow 4.

Fig. 5 is a view showing the inventive device disposed at variation to that seen in Fig. 4, with a spring clip holding the device in non-operative position; and

.Fig. 6 is a side 'elevational view of the device as seen in Fig. 5. 1

Referring now to the drawing wherein like numerals refer to like and corresponding parts throughout"the several views, the intermittent tone device disclosed therein to illustrate the invention comprises an air duct 10 for conducting a stream of air therethrough, a plate 11 rotatably mounted in the duct '10 in the path o'f the air stream fins 12 and 13 on the plate 11 adapted to rotate the plate in response to the flow of the air-stream through the duct 1 0 and tone "ibrator members .14, 1'5, and 16 adapted to rotate with said plate and adapted to be vibrated by the air stream travelling through the duct 10 to produce an individual sound tone when the vibrators are substantially normal to the duct and the air stream to thereby produce intermittent tones as the vibrators 14, 15, and 16 rotate with the plate 11.

More particularly, the duct 10 is equipped with oppositely disposed side wall apertures 20 and 21 which receive the pins 22 and 23 respectively and the side walls of the apertures 20 and 21 provide bearings in which the pins 22 and 23 rotate. The plate 11 is welded to the pins 22 and 23 and so is adapted to rotate within the duct 10 on the pins 22 and 23. The fins 12 and 13 are substantially arcuate and are located at the opposite sides of the plate 11 so that the air travelling therethrough in the direction of the arrow A will engage the fins and rotate the plate as in the direction of the arrows B.

Due to the fact that the tone vibrators 14, 15, and 16 are disposed on opposite sides of the plate 11, air travelling through the duct 10 will operate against the vibrator member on the opposite side of the plate 1.1 so that as seen in Fig. 2, the vibrator member 14 will vibrate while the vibrator members 15 and 16 would not. However, it is to be understood that upon half a rotation of the plate 11 through arc, the converse would be true relative to the vibrators and the vibrator 14 would be inoperative and the vibrators 15 and 16 would operate to produce tones.

Due to the fact that the vibrators 14, 15, and 16 are preferably of various sizes and of various weight mateials, as selected tones of varying quality depth and pitch are produced, to result in intermittent tone sounds of varying musical quality.

When it is desired to render the device inoperative, the spring clip 30 is clamped over the duct 10 and it is to be noted that the pin 23 is equipped with lugs 34 and that the spring clip arm 30 is equipped with a complimentary slot or aperture for receiving the pin 23 and the lugs 34 so as to prevent rotation of the plate 11 within the duct 10. The spring clip 30 is easily positioned and removed so that the device can be easily activated and deactivated. Due to the fact that the inoperative position of the device as seen in Fig. 6 is edgewise to the flow of air in the duct, no material obstruction to air flow or travel in the duct is established by so positioning the device. The plate 11 constantly rotates when the device is activated so that no serious impairment to the flow of air or gas in the duct 10 is occasioned thereby as the device is adapted to rotate rapidly to obviate any back-wash or impediment in the duct 10.

Referring to Fig. 1, the internal combustion engine 40 exhaust manifold 41 is equipped with the inventive device 42 ahead of the muffler 43 and in the tail pipe portion 44 a similar device 43 is disposed. In assembly or integration of the device in conjunction with an internal combustion engine, it is to be noted that the device 42, ahead of the muffler, will have its tones muted by the muflier. The device 42A in the tail pipe will be more audibly heard due to the fact that it is not muted by the muflier 43.

Referring to the device of Fig. 3, the air scoop or funnel 50 is located on the duct 51 so as to provide ram air to operate the device. The device of this type is particularly suitable for ornamental windmills, etc. or for childrens toys such as for placing them through the Window of an automobile while travelling similar to a pin wheel. Obviously, the device can be equipped with a rudder and a pivotal mounting so that the air scoop 50 can be located toward the direction of the wind as in any windmill device.

The inventive intermittent and varied tone producing device with the features described constitutes a compact, durable, neat appearing mechanism easily installed and operated to produce varied and intermittent pleasant tones 25 from otherwise objectionable noisy sounds. It is to be particularly noted that pleasant muted soft tones can be introduced in the device as well as louder and more piercing tones.

Although but a single embodiment of the invention has been shown and described in detail, it is obvious that many changes may be made in the size, shape, detail, and arrangement of the various elements of the invention within the scope of the appended claim.

I claim: a

An air stream intermittent tone device comprising a duct for conducting a stream of air therethrough, an axle mounted across said duct, a plate mounted on said aXle in said duct adapted to rotate in response to a stream of air flowing through said duct, said plate having an opening for receiving a sound tone vibrator member; and a tone vibrator member mounted on said plate overlying said opening so that the air stream flowing through said duct alternately passes said member to produce an interrupted sound tone as said plate turns and rotates, said plate in its rotation acting in the nature of an intermittent butterfly valve to alternately force air through said member and to permit free passage of air through said duct.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 896,606 Wright Aug. 18, 1908 1,796,826 Buckert Mar. 17, 1931 2,642,777 Bradler June 23, 1953 

